The fight for health equity in America is one of the most critical and urgent battles of our time. At the heart of this movement lies the understanding that health isn’t just about access to hospitals or doctors. It’s about the neighborhoods we live in, the air we breathe, and the opportunities we have to thrive. In 2025, across the country, a series of ambitious initiatives are underway to confront systemic health disparities head-on. One such initiative stands out as a model for the nation—Health First Indiana (HFI).
Health First Indiana is a potentially transformative, state-funded program that tackles public health at the county level. Recognizing that local communities are best positioned to understand and address their health challenges, HFI provides direct funding to counties to implement preventive programs tailored to their unique needs. From chronic disease prevention to maternal and child health services, the initiative covers a broad spectrum of essential public health services. In a nation where the zip code you’re born into can determine your life expectancy, programs like HFI are not just necessary—they are moral imperatives.
The scale of HFI’s ambition is modest. With $75 million allocated for 2024 and $150 million in 2025, Indiana has made a commitment to invest in the long-term health of its residents. Counties that opt into the program receive funding to address key public health priorities such as tobacco prevention, lead case management, and injury prevention. An interactive map shows where the funds are going, reflecting transparency and public accountability. This level of engagement ensures that health equity doesn’t remain an abstract goal but manifests in tangible, community-driven outcomes.
But Indiana isn’t alone in this effort. Across the country, health equity conferences and initiatives are gathering momentum. In May 2025, the American Hospital Association (AHA) will host the Accelerating Health Equity Conference in Atlanta. This event will bring together leaders from public health departments, hospitals, and community organizations to share strategies for dismantling the barriers that prevent millions from accessing quality healthcare.
Similarly, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will hold its Health Equity Conference in April 2025, focusing on the theme “Building a Healthier America.” By convening policymakers and practitioners, the conference aims to drive systemic change through policy and innovation. Stanford Medicine, in partnership with The Martin Luther King Jr. Research & Education Institute, will also host a Health Equity Symposium in January, addressing the social determinants of health that continue to plague marginalized communities.
These events are more than just gatherings. They represent a collective acknowledgment that our healthcare system cannot continue to serve a privileged few while neglecting the many. The American Medical Association’s 2024-2025 Strategic Plan, for example, explicitly calls out racial and economic injustices in healthcare and lays out a roadmap to address them. The CMS Framework for Health Equity builds on this by prioritizing data collection, social determinants of health, and equitable access to care.
Community-driven initiatives are also making waves. In Marion County, Indiana, up to $10 million of HFI funding will be distributed to grassroots organizations that address core public health needs. This bottom-up approach empowers local voices and ensures that solutions are crafted by those who understand their communities best.
Moreover, emerging trends point to the growing role of data and workforce engagement in health equity. By this year, up to 65% of employers will collaborate with Employee Resource Groups to promote health initiatives, recognizing that a healthier workforce is a more productive one. Data-driven strategies will allow healthcare providers to identify gaps, reduce costs, and mitigate risk—all while improving patient outcomes.
Health equity isn’t just a public health issue. It’s an economic one, a moral one, and ultimately, a reflection of the kind of society we want to build. The initiatives launching in 2025—from Indiana to national conferences—represent a turning point. But it’s up to all of us to ensure that this momentum translates into lasting change. Because in the end, health equity isn’t about charity. It’s about justice.
